Tripod leg



2 INVENTOR. 14 [V611 mirth o 'w HTT'IRNE'K H. NEUWIRTH Dec. 6, 1949 TRIPOD LEG Filed July 18, 1946 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 I TRIPOD LEG;

H n N w r h. r ok n. N'- essizn Testrite Instrument '00., Inc; NcwYoi-k N. Y., a corporation of New York Application-July. 18,1946; SeriaLNoe 684,492;

ClaimS. (Cl. 248-191) This invention relates to. tripods having legs.

consisting of tubular telescopin sections toad..- just the legs todifferentljengthsand position the tripod head at differentheights, andrelates par-v ticularly to means for releasably' locking the-leg sections in adjusted position,

It is the object of the invention to provide improved means for releasably locking. the tele-,- scoping sections of a tripod legin adi'ustedposition. comprising laterally exnansible and" con tractible shoes carriedat theend; of a telescoping. leg section to.be disposed in an outer leg section to have sliding movement therein by the teie scoping: movement of the leg. sections. and said; telescoping leg section also carrying. means oper-.

ative by rotative movement of the telescopingleg section in one direction when; the leg sections.

have been adjusted to desiredposition to expand;

the shoes into and'retain themin frictional locking engagement with the outer leg section, and said shoes adapted torelease said leg sections to have telescoping movement by rotative movement of the telescoping leg section in the oppo site direction and; thereby'permitting the shoes.

to assume contracted" position out of frictional locking engagement with the outer leg section.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1; is an elevational view of; atripod having tubular telescopingleg sections andshowing the one section of" the legs adjusted longitudinallyoutward from the other; leg section to an extent; to; support; the tripod; headat a predetermined height.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a.

tripod leg, the section being taken substantia ly.

onthe line 2'2 or- Figure 1 and showing the means for' releasably locking the leg sections. ad.- justed to unlocking position.

Figure3' is a viewsimilart'o Figure 2 but showing thelegsections locked in adjusted position,

Figured is a plan view of a segmental locking. shoe;

Figure 5 is aside elevation of; the shoe shown in and looking at thebotton of Figure 4..

Figure 6 i'sasectionaFview-of an abutment of the means for locking the leg sections against telescoping movement adapted to engage in' the outer leg section and showing the same arranged with yielding'means for frictionaliyengaging the leg; section andiholding the abutment against, rotation While permitting .of= slidingmovement; of the abutment" in said leg 'sectiom Figure a i m e f h ahutnieni and.

n the m an d W htmdifii d; Sfifilii. ing means to frictionallyengage the outer leg Figure a is aplanview oi the yielding means,

shown in Figure Tin; connection with the abutment for inijctionaliy, engaging the outer leg. sec,- tion' and" holding the abutment against rotation therein;

Figure 9 is a; view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified construction and. arrangement of ex-. pansiblegand .contractibl'eshoes' for locking tripod leg sections against telescoping movement.

Figure 10 is an end view of the shoes shown in; Figure it for; releasably locking the leg sections; against telescoping movement and showing the same in contracted"; position.

Figurelli'sa side elevation of the locking shoes, shown in Figure I0 looking at the bottom of said figure; and

Figure-IZ-isan end elevation of. one of the'segmen-ta-Hockingshoesshown in and looking at the top of *Figurefl.

In carrying out the invention there is provided tubular leg sections M, H; the section 13' being of' larger diameter than the section Hi; The leg sectional? isarrangedat one end with an in wardlyextending annul'ar shoulder of a diameter for'the siidingengagement of the leg section l4,

andshown by fianging the end of the leg section;

l3; inwardly, as shown at IS in Figures 2 and 3. In assembling the leg sections the section HI is.

engagectinto the end of} the section l3 opposite.

theend'fronrwhicir the leg section 14 is to be ex nd'd;.an omeycn h se i n l4 from moving t fiomt ne endffofihet ce Section 13 the d i the sectip r i lrwithin' the section 13 is expanded to; a; diameter. to have sliding engagement with theinnerspriaceoithe section I 3 and of a diameter greater than the: diameter of the flange l5v inan anner-as'hereinaiterdescribed and as shown.

at 201 i'n1 Figures 2'an'd. 34 A cap i6 is secured biiurcation; l1; whereby it is pivotally connectedto thelhead If ofthejtripod by engaging the.bi-.

fur-cationlegslahoppositeisidesof an ear 19. ex-.

ended from. he: ot om. f he h ad pivotallyfconncoting'the sameby apivot pin ex-. ten'dedjthrougli fcg fitered openings. in the biiurcation legsandf can, the tripod as shown being p ov ded haying ee of friction material, such as rubber, seciiredj to" theenditl'ieneofl by perforated. caps, as atfl;

th jth'r eej legs; and the sections I44 the plug being slightly tapered whereby the end of the section I4 is expanded, as at 20, for engagement of the flange I5 of the leg section I3 and prevent the leg section I4 from moving out..-

from the leg section I3. The plug 22 has an annular laterally extending flange at one end to engage at the end of the legsection I4, as at 23.

The locking means proper'compr'ises a conical member or head 24, which may be of truncated conical form, arranged at the end of a portion 25 of uniform diameter havinga portion 26 of I reduced diameter extending from the end, op-

posite the conical headf-having a driving fit in a bore axially of the plug 22 and whereby it is mounted at the end of the leg section I'4 within the leg section I3 to participate insliding movement and rotation of the leg section I4, the extension 26 having an intermediate portion provided with flutes or serrations 21 spaced about and extending longitudinally of the extension 26 and adapted to be seated in the wall of the borerin the plug 22 when driven therein and hold the same with the conical head against rotation relative to the plug 22 and leg section I4. The conical head is provided with a screw threaded stem extending from the apex thereof, and while this stem may be integral with the conical head as shown it consist of a headed screwl28 threaded into an opening in the end or apex of the conical head. An abutment is adjustably mounted on the threaded stem to have movement toward and away from the conical head, and as shown may consist of a disk 29 having a screw threaded axial opening for the threaded engagement of the stem. The disk abutment loosely engages in the leg section I3, and to hold the abutment against rotation by the rotation of the conical head to screw the stem into the disk opening and move the disk toward the conical head, the disk is provided with means to frictionally contact the inner surface of the leg section I3 and hold the disk against rotation while permitting of sliding movement of the abutment disk in said leg section, As shown in Figures 2 and 3 this means consists of a plug 30 slidably mounted in a recess 3I extended radially from the recess into engagement with the leg section I3 with sufficient force to frictionally hold the disk against rotation by the rotation of the screw threaded stem withthe conical head. As 7 shown in Figure 6 the means carried by the disk abutment and frictionally engaging the leg sec- 4 into frictional engagement with the wall of the leg section I3 under the inherent resiliency of the material thereof.

Laterally expansible and contractible shoes in the form of segments 36, and shown as two in number, although a greater number may be utilized, are disposed about the stem and conical head. at the juncture thereof between the abutment 2!! and the conical surface of the head. The outer surface of the shoe segments is an are having a radius less than the inner diameter of the tubular section I3 and in the contracted posi- 'tion" 'thereof may contact the inner surface of the leg section I3 with'a light force, whereby the shoes with the leg section I4 are adapted to have sliding movement relative to the leg section I3. 'Ifhe leg sections I4 are normally adjusted into the leg sections I3 and locked in said position, and in the use of; the tripod the locking means is released and the leg sections I4 adjusted outwardly from the leg sections I3 .to-the desired extent and, releasably locked in said position. Bythe arrangement of threading the disk abutment 29 onto the threaded stem 28 by turning or imparting rotative movementin one direction, as to the right, to the leg section I3 the stem will be threaded into the disk 29 causing-.the'disk 29 and conical head to move toward each other andin the opposite direction, as to the left, this rotative movement of the leg section I4 causing the stem to be screwed out of the disk abutment 29 and said disk and the conical head to move away from each other and the shoe segments, thereby permitting the shoe segments to assume contracted position and move out of locking engagement with the tube section I3 when the leg section I4 may be adjusted into the leg section I3 and the leg sections locked together in said position.

To facilitate the expanding of the shoe segments by the conical head each of the shoe segments has an elongated angular recess in the inner face extending inward from the one end of the shoe segment to be disposed next to the abutment disk 29, as at 31, which recesses when the shoes are disposed in opposed or mating relation will engage at diametrically opposite sides of the threaded stem 23. -An arcuate recess 38 tion I3 to hold the disk against rotation consists the periphery of the disk 29, and having one end.

bent laterally and engaged in a socket in the bottom wall of the recess, as at 35, to anchor said rin to the disk, the opposite end portion of said ring being free and yieldingly urged outwardly in the inner face of the shoe segments is extended into the opposite end of the shoe segments and is of greater dimension or depth than the angular recess 31, the bottom wall of the recesses 31 thereby forming with the end wall of the recesses 38 an angle, as at 39, which angle, or a portion intermediate the ends thereof shaped to conform to the tapering face of the conical head, is adapted to engage with the conical head as the shoes are engaged by and expanded into frictional locking engagement with the leg section I3.

To support the shoes in predetermined relation to the conical head an annulus 50 is loosely engaged upon the conical head at the end of the shoes opposite the abutment disk 29, and said annulus yieldingly supporting and urging the shoes toward the abutment disk 29 by a spring 5| coiled about the base portion 25 of uniform diameter f the h d; and centered be weent hes plea. and: he annu u 5,0;-

1. .1 F ures 9 to 1.2;: inc usive-., he 'e a modified construction, and; arran ement of tpans -ble and contractib e shoes for lock he leg sections against telescopingadjustment, 'lihe shoes are constructed-from a cylindrical block of a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the leg section 1.3; and. having the outer surface arranged with parallel flutes or serrations extendinglongitudinally of: and/spaced about the block. The block is provided with.

the intermediate portion; of; the bore, as M21423,-

is; of less diameter than, he portion H- and: of greater diameter than the screw threaded portion 40' and forming with the end wall of the bore portion 4| an angle 43.

The block is slitted diametrically, as at 44, to separate the block into two shoes or segments of substantially semi-circular form 45, 46, and. each of said segments slitted longitudinally intermediate the side edges, as at 41, said slits extending from the end of the block or segments into which the bore portion 4| is extended to a point within the opposite end of the segments, and thus arranging each of said shoes or segments with a pair of flexible laterally expansible and contractible portions.

The shoes 45, 46 are disposed about the stem 28 and conical head 24 at the juncture thereof with the end of the shoes into which the bore portion 4| and the slit 41 is extended opposed to the conical head. The block from which the shoes 45, 46 are formed as well as said shoes when assembled is of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the leg section l3 and permits of sliding movement of the shoes in said leg section, and which also retains the shoes in position with the screw thread on the bore portion 411 engaging the screw thread of the stem and the angle 43 engaging the portion of the conical head within the end thereof. The shoes are expanded into frictional locking engagement with the leg section I3 by turning or rotating the telescoping leg section l4 in one direction, as to the right, causing the shoes and the conical head to move toward each other and the conical head to expand the shoes into locking engagement with the leg section l3. The leg sections are released to eiTect telescoping adjustment thereof by rotating the leg section l4 in the opposite direction, as to the left, causing the shoes and conical head to move away from each other and the shoes to assume position out of looking ongagement with the leg section l3. While it is not essential to the operation of the locking means the shoes may be yieldingly retained in opposed relation with the threaded bore portion 40 engaging the screw thread on the stem 28 by a resilient split ring 48 engaging in a recess disposed about the shoe segments within the end having the bore sections or recesses 40. In this arrangement as the telescoping leg section is turned or rotated in one direction, as to the right, the conical head 24 and shoes 45, 46 will be caused to move toward each other and the conical head engaging the shoulder 43 will exlso: expandin the s li ng.

; move away: from each; other and. the shoes are moved, out; or locking;- engagementxwith the leg section byr theasnlittring.

Ehe: sc ,ewthreaded: stem; 28=:may-be constructedint ral- Wiflh thmconical; head and arranged withead; 52 0 en agement: of: and prevent the abutment dislg Z9; and; shoes 45; -46 to be moved outv or engagement with and. ofi; from; the. stern should the leg section l4 be rotated to: such an extent: as to, cause; said: abutment disk 29, and s o s 45;,v 4fittoimove oiffrom the: stem. Or the em 2:8; ma'yicmsista of a, headed screw threaded intoia 'socketiextendedi intoithe apex of the: conical head.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a tripod leg including telescoping sections, means for releasably locking the leg sections against telescoping movement, comprising a conical head secured at the base in the end of the telescoping leg section disposed in the outer leg section and having a screw threaded stem extending axially from the apex thereof, an abutment having threaded connection with the stem, means carried by the abutment frictionally engaging the outer leg section and holding the abutment against rotation while permitting of sliding movement of the abutment therein, and laterally expansible and contractible segments disposed about the stem and conical head and confined between the conical head and abutment, the outer surface of said segments being in an are having a radius less than the internal diameter of and to permit of sliding movement of the segments in the outer leg section, the rotative movement of the telescoping leg section in one direction causing the head in cooperation with the abutment to expand the segments into frictional locking engagement with the outer leg section, and rotation of the telescoping leg section in the opposite direction causing the head and abutment to move away from each other and permit the segments to move out of locking engagement with the outer leg section and release the leg sections to have telescoping adjustment.

2. A tripod leg including telescoping sections as claimed in claim 1, wherein the segments have an angular recess in the inner surface at one end portion and an arcuate recess in said surface of the segments at the opposite end portion of greater dimension than the angular recess and forming a shoulder between the recesses, said angular recesses adapted to be disposed relative to the threaded stem and the arcuate recess portion relative to the conical head and the tapering surface of the head adapted to engage the shoulder between the recesses and expand the segments into locking engagement with the outer leg section.

3. A tripod leg including telescoping sections as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment is in the form of a disk and the yielding means carried by the abutment frictionally engaging the outer leg section to hold the abutment against rotation and permit of sliding movement of the abutment in the outer leg section consists of a plug slidably mounted in a recess in the periphery of the disk and a spring yieldingly urging the plug outward from said recess and said plug adapted to be moved into the disk recess by the engagement of the disk into the outer leg section and yieldingly urged outwardly from the disk recess into engagement with the outer leg section.

4. A tripod leg including telescoping sections as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment is in the form of a disk, and the means carried by the abutment to frictionally engage and retain the abutment against rotation while permitting-sliding movement of the abutment in the outer leg section comprises a resilient split ring member engaged in an annular recess in the periphery of the disk and having one end anchored to the disk and the other end free and adapted by the resiliency thereof to frictionally engage the outer leg section.

5. A tripod leg including telescoping sections as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment is in the form of a disk, and the means carried by the abutment to frictionally engage and hold the abutment against rotation while permitting sliding movement thereof in the outer leg section, comprises a band of resilient friction material seated in an annular recess in the periphery of the disk and adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of the outer leg section.

HERMAN NEUWIRTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

